Storage cabinet drawer assembly



July 15, 1958 w. R. JEWELL' 2343,44].

STORAGE CABINET DRAWER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 1a, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. J'EWELL H [S ATTORNEY jmfiy '35, 1958 w. R. JEWELLSTORAGE CABINET DRAWER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. .TEWELL mmzh HIS ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 2,843,441 STORAGE CABINET DRAWER ASSEMBLY William R.Jewell, Lyndon, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporationof New York Application October 16, 1956, Serial No. 616,230

9 Claims. (Cl. 312-301) ble, drawers are generally preferred to shelvesfor the storage of materials at below-counter levels. In the case ofundercounter freezers, refrigerators and rcfrigeratorfreezercombinations, all of which comprise relatively large refrigeratedstorage compartments below co-unter- I level, maximum storage volume isnormally obtained when the access opening to such compartments is closedby a single closure member. By employing a single closure member,maximum storage volume is obtained due to the elimination of the usualmullion or divider normally provided between the adjacent drawers. inaddition the provision of a single drawer front for closing the accessopening to a refrigerated compartment keeps at a minimum the total spacebetween the cabinet and the closure member which must be sealed by asealing gasket or the like in order to maintain the desiredrefrigerating temperatures within the refrigerated compartment.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide astorage drawer assembly including a single.

closure member or drawer front particularly adapted for use inconnection with refrigerated compartments.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a drawerassembly including a removable storage bin or receptacle and meansoperative when such bin or receptacle is in its normal position to limitthe forward or opening travel of the drawer. V

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a drawer assemblyincluding superimposed removable storage bins or containers normallyarranged to travel with the drawer assembly and means whereby the upperbin can be moved rearwardly to provide access to the lower bin when thedrawer assembly is in its open position and returned to its normalposition relative to the drawer assembly when the drawer is closed.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of the present invention there is provided adrawer assembly for a storage compartment, the drawer assembly includinga pair of interconnected slides and cooperating supports for supportingthe assembly. A storage pan or bin is normally supported within theframework formed by the interconnected slides and stop means actuated bythe removable pan or bin when in its normalposition is adapted to limitthe forward or opening movement of the drawer assembly. In oneembodiment of the invention there is also provided a second storage panor bin removably supported by the drawer assembly framework and movabletherewith. Means are also provided whereby this secondpan or bin "icenormally disposed above the first pan can be independently movedrearwardly when the drawer assembly is open, and automatically returnedto its normal position upon closure of the drawer assembly.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a refrigeratorcabinet including the drawer assembly of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the constructionof the drawer and its supporting slides and tracks at one side of thecabinet when the drawer is in its closed position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the drawer in a partially openedposition; and 1 Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along line4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a refrigeratorcabinet including an inner liner 1 forming a storage compartment 2 forfoodstuffs requiring refrigeration. This compartment is disposed in thelower half or portion of the cabinet below a second storage compartment3. It is therefore below what may be termed normal counter height sothat access to the contents thereof can be more readily obtained whenthe contents are contained in drawers rather than on shelves positionedWithin the compartment 2. The compartment 2 is maintained at desiredstorage temperatures by means of an evaporator 4 having one section 5arranged along the lower and rear walls of the compartment and a secondsection 6 along the top of the compartment on which ice trays may bestored. The evaporator 4 forms part of the refrigerating systemincluding a motor compressor unit 7 and a condenser (not shown).

The access opening to the storage compartment 2 is closed by a closuremember in the form of a drawer front 8 and the space between the drawerfront 8 and the face of the cabinet is sealed by means of a gasket 9extending around the peripheral edge of the drawer front 8.

The drawer front 8 is part of the improved drawer assembly of thepresent invention. In the modification of the invention shown, thisdrawer assembly includes a pair of spaced slides 10 connected togetherby front and rear cross members 11 and 12 to form an open cradle orframework for supporting a removable storage pan 14 by means of the rimor edge portions 15 of the storage pan which overlap and rest'on theframework. The drawer front 8 is suitably secured to the forward endportions of the drawer slides 10.

This drawer assembly is slidably supported within the compartment 2 bydrawer supports 16 secured to the opposite side walls 17 of thecompartment 2. In order that the entire weight of the storage drawerassembly and its contents will not be carried merely by the liner walls17, the drawer supports 16 preferably extend through the rear wall 18 ofthe liner and are provided with thermal insulating means for adjustablysecuring the rear ends of the supports 16 to the outer cabinet case 21.

For a more detailed description of the drawer assembly and supportarrangement reference is made to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing. Asshown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, each of thedrawer supports 16 are of achannel or U- shaped cross section and the legs thereof extend inwardlyfrom the compartment side walls 17 to form upper and lower tracksections and guides 19 and 20*. Each of the slides 10 also compriseU-shaped portions disposed between the upper and lower track sections 19and 20, and a plurality of rollers are provided on the slides 10 anddrawer supports 16 to facilitate opening and closing of the drawerassembly. Specifically, the forward ends 22 of the slides 10 aresupported byrollers 23 mounted on a flange 24 formingpart of the drawersupports 16. A second pair of rollers carried on the rear end of theslides it) ride between the upper and lower track sections 19 and 20,contacting one or the otherof these two sections depending upon theposition of the drawer relative to the drawer supports 16. Another setof rollers 26 which a e also secured to the slides adjacent the rearends thereof normally ride on the base portions of the supports 16 toprevent frictional engagement of the slides it with the supports 16 uponany sideward movement of the drawer assembly.

In order to maintain the drawer assembly in a closed position and biasthe drawer front and gasket 9 into sealing engagement with the cabinetspace surrounding the access opening to the compartment 2, there isprovided a spring biased latch 28 pivotally connected by means a pin 29to the forward ends of the slides lit for contact with roller 23. As isshown more fully in Pig. 2 of the drawing, this latch comprises a firstsloping bottom side 30 which causes the member 28 to ride over theroller 23 when the drawer is brought in to its closed position and asecond rearwardly sloping section 31 which engages the surface of theroller 23 when the drawer is in its closed position. A spring 33 biasingthe section 31 of the latch member 28 downwardly against the surface ofthe roller 23 causes the latch, in cooperation with the roller 23, tourge the drawer in a rearward or gasket sealing direction. Spring 33 isso constructed that, while it will urge the latch member 28 into thedesired gasket sealing position,

the application of an opening force on the handle 34 affixed to thedrawer front 8 causes the latch member 23 to ride upwardly over theroller 23 so that the drawer can be readily opened.

Forward or opening movement of the drawer is limited by means of a stop36 pivotally connected to the rear cross member 12 by a pin 37. Thisstop, which prevents accidental removal of the drawer from the cabinet,includes a first arm 38 normally engaged by the rim of the pan 14 andheld in a depressed position such that a second arm 39 of the stop ispositioned beneath the lower track of the drawer support 16 where itwill contact the rear edge 40 of flange 28 when the drawer assembly isin the open or access position to prevent further move-- ment of thedrawer outwardly of the compartment 2.

In order to remove the entire drawer assembly from the compartment 2 asfor example when it becomes desirable to clean the interior walls of thecompartment, it is necessary only to remove the pan 14 from the supporting framework whereupon the pivoted stop 36 is free to swing to thedotted line position shown in Fig. 4 in which .the second arm 39 of thestop will clear the stop engaging edge 40 so that the entire drawerassembly can be withdrawn from the compartment.

For most efficient usage, it is of course desirable that the depth of astorage drawer or bin such as the bin lid be kept within certain limitsdepending upon the material to be stored therein. In the case of theusual frozen foods stored in a refrigerated compartment, it isfrequently desirable to limit the depth of any one drawer receptacle andto provide more than one storage bin. In order to do this in accordancewith the present invention while still retaining a single closure memberfor the access opening to the refrigerated compartment, there isprovided a second or upper storage bin 43 which is supported by the samedrawer assembly as that supporting the lower pan 14 and which isnormally movable with the drawer assembly when the drawer is opened orclosed.

- For access to the lower pan 14 when the drawer is in its openposition, this upper pan 43 is so supported on the supporting frameworkand the supports 16 that it can be moved rearwardly back into thestorage compartment 2 'thus exposing the contents of the lower pan 14.To accomplish this result in accordance with the present invention, theupper pan 43 is provided with a pair of rollers 44 which normally rideon the upper tracks 19 forming part of the supports 16 and the forwardend of the pan 43 is supported on the slides 19 by means of a pair oflegs 45. Means for anchoring or indexing the upper pan 43 relative tothe slides 10 are provided in the form of indentations 46 provided inthe upper surface of the slides 10 adapted to receive the feet or pads48 provided on the legs 45.

When the drawer assembly is moved to its open position, the feet 43resting in the indentations 46 cause the pan to move forwardly with theremainder of the drawer assembly exposing the contents of the upper pan43. If access is desired to the lower pan 14, it is necessary merely tolift or move the forward edge of the pan 43 to a position in which thefeet 43 clear the indentations 46 in which the position of the upper pand3 can he slid rearwardly as indicated in Fig. 3 with the feet 48sliding along the upper surface of the guides 10. This rearward movementof the upper pan :3 when the drawer is in its open position is limitedby means of a stop St on one or both of the upper track sections 19located at a point in which the rollers 44 are normally positioned Whenthe drawer is in a closed position with the feet 48 resting in theindentations as. By this arrangement it is not necessary to return thepan 43 to its normal position directly above the lower pan 14 before thedrawer assembly is closed. Closing of the drawer while the rollers 44are in contact with the stop 5%} causes the upper pan 43 to remainstationary within the compartment so that the legs 45 slide along theslides 10 during closing movement of the remaining portions of thedrawer assembly and finally drop into the indentations 46 as the drawerreaches its normally closed position. Subsequent opening of the drawerthen again causes the pan 43 to move forwardly along with the remainderof the drawer assembly.

From the above description it will be seen that there has been providedin accordance with the present invention, a simple and efficient drawerstructure particularly adapted for the storage of frozen or refrigeratedfoodstuffs. In addition to providing positive means for maintaining thedrawer in a closed and gasket sealing position, the invention alsoincludes one or more storage bins or containers which can be readilyremoved from the drawer assembly for cleaning purposes without removingthe entire assembly from the storage compartmerit. The invention isparticularly useful in connection with relatively large compartments ofa height such that more than one storage bin is desirable. For suchapplications, there is provided a second or upper storage bin or panwhich is not only separately removable from the storage compartment whenthe drawer is in its open position but which also includes means wherebyit can be returned to within the storage compartment to provide readyaccess to the lower pan and thereafter will index to its normal positionrelative to the drawer assembly merely upon closing of the drawer.

While specific embodiments of this invention have been shown anddescribed, it is not desired that the invention be limited to theparticular construction shown and described and it is intended by'theappended claims to cover all such modifications within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A cabinet including walls defining a storage compartment having anaccess opening at the front thereof, a drawer assembly adapted to movewithin said compartment, said drawer assembly comprising a pair ofspaced slides, means including a rear cross member connecting saidslides together to form an open framework, a removable storage pandisposed within said framework and including rim portions for supportingsaid pan on said framework, a drawer front for closing said accessopening connected to said drawer slides, a pair of opposed horizontallydisposed supports secured to the side walls of said compartment, saidsupports being of U- shaped cross section to provide upper and lowerspaced track sections extending inwardly from said walls above and belowsaid drawer slides. means for limiting forward travel of said drawerassembly when said pan is disposed on said framework comprising apivoted stop member pivotally mounted on said rear cross member andincluding a first arm engaged by a rim portion of said pan when said panis positioned on said framework and a second arm normally extendingbeneath the adjacent support when said pan is in its normal positionwithin said framework and stop engaging means adjacent the forward endof said support for contacting said second arm when said drawer is movedto an accessible position, said pivoted member being so constructed thatremoval of said pan causes rotation of said pivoted member to a positionin which said second arm clears said stop engaging means on said supportwhen said drawer is slid forwardly, a second storage pan normallydisposed above said first pan when said drawer is in the closedposition, said second storage pan being disposed above said framework, apair of legs mounted on the forward end of said second pan and supportedby said slides, and means for causing said second pan to move normallywith said drawer assembly when said drawer is opened, said meansincluding indentations in said slides for removably receiv ing saidlegs.

2. A cabinet including walls defining a storage compartment having anaccess opening at the front thereof, a drawer assembly adapted to movewithin said compartment, said drawer assembly comprising a pair ofspaced slides connected together by spaced front and rear cross members,said slides and said cross members cooperating to form an openframework, a removable storage pan disposed within said framework andinclud ing rim portions for supporting said pan on said frame-- work, adrawer front for closing said access opening connected to said drawerslides,'a pair of opposed horizontally disposed supports secured to theside walls of compartment, said supports being of U-shaped cross sectionto provide upper and lower spaced track sections extending inwardly fromsaid walls above and below said drawer slides, a set of rollers mountedon the rear ends of said slides between said track sections, a secondset of rollers carried by said supports adjacent the front end thereoffor supporting said slides, means for limiting for ward travel of saiddrawer assembly when said pan is disposed on said framework comprising apivoted stop member pivotally mounted on said rear cross member andincluding a first arm engaged by a rim portion of said pan when said panis positioned on said framework and a second arm normally extendingbeneath the adja cent support when said pan is in its normal positionwithin said framework and stop engaging means adjacent the forward endof said support for contacting said second arm when said drawer is movedto an accessible position, said pivoted member being so constructed thatremoval of said pan causes rotation of said pivoted member to a positionin which said second arm clears said stop engaging means on said supportwhen said drawer is slid forwardly, a second storage pan normallydisposed above said first pan when said drawer is in the closedposition, said second storage pan being disposed above said frameworkand including a pair of rollers adjacent the rear end thereof normallyriding on said upper track sections and a pair of legs mounted on theforward end of said second pan and supported on said slides, and meansfor causing said second pan to move normally with said drawer assemblywhen said last-mentioned drawer is opened, said means includingindentations in said slides for removably receiving said legs.

3. A cabinet including walls defining a storage compartment having anaccess opening at the front thereof, a drawer assembly adapted to movewithin said compartment, said drawer assembly comprising a pair ofspaced sll es connected together by spaced front and rear cross members,said slides and said cross members cooperating to form an openframework, a removable storage pan disposed within said framewori, andincluding rim portions for supporting said pan on said framework, adrawer front for closing said access opening connected to said drawerslides, a pair of opposed horizontally disposed supports secured to theside walls of said compartment, said supports being of U-shaped crosssection to provide upper and lower spaced track sections extendinginwardly from said walls above and below said drawer slides, a set ofrollers mounted on the rear ends of said slides between said tracksections, a second set of rollers carried by said supports adjacent thefront end thereof for supporting said slides, a latch means for biasingsaid. drawer front to a closed position including a latch memberpivotally supported on at least one of said slides and including asloping surface portion engaging one of said second set of rollers whensaid drawer is closed, spring means biasing said sloping surface portioninto engagement with said roller to effect a closing force on saiddrawer, means for limiting the forward movement of said drawer assemblywhen said pan is disposed on said framework comprising a pivoted stopmember pivotally mounted on said rear cross member and including a firstarm engaged by a rim portion of said pan when said pan is positioned onsaid framework and a second arm normally extending beneath the adjacentsupport when said pan is in its normal position within said frameworkand stop engaging means adjacent the forward end of said support forcontacting said second arm when said drawer is moved to an accessibleposition, said pivoted member being so constructed that removal of saidpan causes rotation of said pivoted member to a position in which saidsecond arm clears said stop engaging means on said support when saiddrawer is slid forwardly, a second storage pan normally disposed abovesaid first pan when said drawer is in the closed position, said secondstorage pan being disposed auove said frame work and including a pair ofrollers adjacent the rear end thereof normally riding on said uppertrack sections and a pair of legs mounted on the forward end of saidsecond pan and supported on said slides, and means for causing saidsecond pan to move normally with said drawer assembly when said draweris opened, said last-mentioned means including indentations in saidslides for removably receiving said legs.

4. A cabinet including walls defining a storage compartment having anaccess opening at the front thereof, a drawer assembly adapted to movewithin said compartment, said drawer assembly including a pair ofopposed slides and a pair of connecting cross members forming an openframework, a removable storage pan supported by said framework, andmeans for preventing accidental removal of said drawer assembly fromsaid compartment when said storage pan is positioned on said framework,said means comprising a stop pivotally supported by one of said crossmembers and including one arm engaged by a rim portion of said pan whensaid pan is in its normal position and a second arm adapted to contact astop engaging member on the adjacent support when said drawer is movedto an open position, removal of said pan causing said pivoted stop torotate to a position in which said second arm clears said stop engagingmember.

5. A cabinet including walls defining a storage compartment having anaccess opening at the front thereof, a drawer assembly adapted to movewithin said compartment, said drawer assembly including a pair ofinterconnected opposed slides forming an open framework, a removablestorage pan supported by said framework and means for preventingaccidental removal of said drawer assembly from said compartment whensaid storage pan is positioned on said framework, said means comprisinga pivoted stop pivotally supported by said framework and including onearm engaged by a rim portion of said pan when said pan is in its normalposition and a second arm adapted to contact a stop engaging member onthe adja- 7 cent support when said drawer is moved to an open position,removal of said pan causing said pivoted stop to rotate to a position inwhich said second arm clears said stop engaging member.

6. A cabinet including walls defining a storage compartment having anaccess opening at the front thereof, a drawer assembly adapted to movewithin said compartment, said drawer assembly including a pair ofopposed interconnected slides forming an open framework, 2. firststorage pan including rim portions said framework for supporting saidpan within said open framework, a second storage pan normally disposedabove said first pan, means for supporting said second pan within saidcompartment for normal movement with said drawer assembly. said meanscomprising a pair of legs engaging said slides adjacent the forward endsthereof, slides having indentations therein for removably receiving theends of said legs whereby removal of said legs from said indentationspermits said second pan to be moved rearwardly independent of saiddrawer assembly.

7. A cabinet including walls defining a storage compartment having anaccess opening at the front thereof, a drawer assembly adapted to movewithin said compartment, said drawer assembly including a pair ofopposed slides and front and rear cross members connecting said slidesto form an open framework, a first storage pan including means forsupporting said pan within said open framework, a second storage pannormally disposed above said first pan, a pair of opposed supportssecured to the side walls of said compartment for receiving said slides,said supports terminating short of said access opening, and means forsupporting said second pan for normal movement with said drawerassembly, said supporting means comprising a pair of legs engaging saidslides adjacent the forward ends thereof. said slides having indexingmeans thereon for removably receiving the ends of said legs wherebyremoval of said legs from said indexing means when said drawer assemblyis in an open posi tion permits said second pan to be moved rearwardlyindependent of said drawer assembly and means limiting said rearwardmovement of said second pan whereby said legs engage said indexing meansupon subsequent closure of said drawer assembly.

8. A cabinet including walls defining a storage compartment having anaccess opening at the front thereof, a drawer assembly adapted to movewithin said compartment, said drawer assembly including a pair ofopposed interconnected slides forming an open framework, a pair oftracks within said compartment for supporting said slides, a firststorage pan including rim portions engaging said framework forsupporting said pan within said open framework, an upper storage pannormally disposed above said first pan, and means for supporting saidupper pan within said compartment for normal movement with said drawerassembly, said means comprising a pair of legs engaging said slides adacent the forward ends thereof, said slides having indexing meansthereon for removably receiving the ends of said legs whereby removal ofsaid legs from said indexing means when said drawer assembly is in anopen position permits said pan to be moved rearwardly independent ofsaid drawer assembly, and means limiting rearward movement of said upperpan whereby closure of said drawer legs to said indexing means.

9. A cabinet including walls defining a storage compartment accessopening at the front thereof, a drawer assembly adapted to move withinsaid compartment, said drawer assembly including a pair of opposedinterconnected slides and forming an open framework, 21 pair of trackssecured to the side walls of said compartment for receiving said slides,a first storage pan including rim portions engaging said framework forsupporting said pan within said open framework, a second pan normallydisposed above said first pan, and means for supporting said second panwithin said compartment for normal movement with said drawer assembly,said means comprising a pair of rollers secured to the rear end of saidpan for riding on said tracks and a pair of legs engaging said slidesadjacent the forward ends thereof, said slides having indentationstherein for normally receiving the ends of said legs for normal movementof said pan with said assembly, removal of said legs from saidindentations permitting said pan to be moved rearwardly independent ofsaid drawer assembly when said drawer assembly is open, and meanslimiting said rearward movement of said second pan to a position inwhich said legs again engage said indentations upon subsequent closingof said drawer assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS843,194 Coolbaugh Feb. 5, 1907 1,761,303 Hunter June 3, 1930 1,940,047Cutler Dec. 19, 1933 2,290,653 Stoddard July 21, 1942 2,745,707 SebensMay 15, 1956 assembly returns said

